Queensland
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds disadvantage is disproportionately located in a small number of communities in largely regional Queensland, which experience high and persistent rates of intergenerational unemployment, low household income, and high rates of youth unemployment.
KEY FINDINGS
Disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of communities within Queensland, with 9% of locations accounting for 41% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators.
These communities experience a complex web of disadvantage that make it challenging to improve life opportunities.
Most disadvantage is located in regional Queensland, particularly in the west and far north of the state — 30 of the 40 most disadvantaged areas are outside Brisbane, and eight of the 10 areas experiencing the most extreme disadvantage were located outside the capital.
The most disadvantaged communities have remained disadvantaged for long periods. Eight of the top 10 most disadvantaged areas were also ranked highly disadvantaged in 2015. Many of these communities were experiencing disadvantage on multiple fronts.
There are some positive signs, with a handful of areas improving their results for long-term unemployment and education.
The most common forms of severe disadvantage in locations ranking highly on at least eight indicators are jobless parents; young people not in employment, education or training; and low income.
EIGHT OF THE 10 AREAS EXPERIENCING THE MOST EXTREME DISADVANTAGE were LOCATED OUTSIDE the capital.
Locational disadvantage is concentrated
A limited number of communities disproportionately occupy the most disadvantaged positions across the various indicators:
Five areas, about 1% of locations, account for 11% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators. This is an eleven-fold overrepresentation, and similar to the 2015 result.
45 areas, about 9% of locations, account for 41% of the most disadvantaged rank positions. This is more than a four-fold overrepresentation.
The disproportionate distribution of disadvantage within Queensland is seen most clearly in comparing the most 3% of most disadvantaged communities with the rest of the state. Those living in the 3% most disadvantaged areas (15 communities) are:
Three times more likely to be exposed to family violence or be living in public housing.
Nearly three times more likely to be experiencing long-term unemployment (2.9 times) or have spent time in prison (2.7 times).
Twice as likely to have a juvenile conviction.
About 1 per cent OF LOCATIONS ACCOUNTed FOR 11 per cent OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED RANK POSITIONS ACROSS ALL INDICATORS.
LOCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE IS PERSISTENT…
We can compare findings of this 2021 study with previous Dropping off the Edge studies undertaken in 2007 and 2015 to see the persistent nature of locational disadvantage.
Many of the locations identified as disadvantaged in 2021 were also disadvantaged in the 2015 report. Of those in the top 10 most disadvantaged locations in 2021, eight were also in the 2015 list of 40 most disadvantaged locations, and three were listed as disadvantaged in both 2007 and 2015. This trend shows the entrenched nature of disadvantage in these communities.
THERE IS IMMENSE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COST TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF SUSTAINED DISADVANTAGE.
…AND DISADVANTAGE OCCURS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS
Disadvantage is difficult to shift when it occurs across multiple areas of life. These challenges combine to create what can seem to be insurmountable hurdles.
In Queensland, 5% of locations (29 areas) have at least eight indicators in the top 5% most disadvantaged. These 29 areas account for 30% of all possible indicator positions.
This is a marginal lessening from the level of concentration in 2015, but continues to highlight the disproportionate burden borne by some areas.
MOST DISADVANTAGED locations IN QUEENSLAND - COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS
| Band | SA2 Name | Population | Location | In 2007 | In 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| 1 | Aurukun | 1,370 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Carpentaria | 5,124 | Rest of Qld | Y | Y |
| 1 | Kingaroy Region - North | 9,700 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw | 1,859 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Logan Central | 6,278 | Greater Brisbane | Y | Y |
| 1 | Mount Morgan | 2,957 | Rest of Qld | Y | Y |
| 1 | Palm Island | 2,684 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Riverview | 3,002 | Greater Brisbane | ||
| 1 | Rockhampton City | 3,093 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 1 | Yarrabah | 2,933 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Bundaberg | 6,123 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Cape York | 8,489 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 1 | Far South West | 2,647 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 1 | Heatley | 4,105 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 1 | Inala - Richlands | 20,094 | Greater Brisbane | Y | Y |
| 2 | Kingston (Qld.) | 10,544 | Greater Brisbane | Y | |
| 2 | Northern Peninsula | 3,224 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 2 | Tara | 4,031 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 2 | Torres Strait Islands | 5,178 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 2 | Woodridge | 12,530 | Greater Brisbane | Y | Y |
| 2 | Charleville | 4,220 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 2 | Cooloola | 6,622 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 2 | Eagleby | 14,593 | Greater Brisbane | Y | Y |
| 2 | Gin Gin | 5,127 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 2 | Granville | 3,197 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 3 | Leichhardt - One Mile | 8,885 | Greater Brisbane | ||
| 3 | Manoora | 6,442 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 3 | Maryborough (Qld) | 18,377 | Rest of Qld | Y | Y |
| 3 | Nanango | 9,861 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 3 | Redland Islands | 10,202 | Greater Brisbane | Y | Y |
| 3 | Berserker | 6,699 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 3 | Far Central West | 2,105 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 3 | Goodna | 11,453 | Greater Brisbane | ||
| 3 | Gympie - North | 14,778 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 3 | Herberton | 5,608 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 4 | Ingham | 4,211 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 4 | Ipswich - East | 18,900 | Greater Brisbane | ||
| 4 | Manunda | 5,539 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| 4 | Mount Isa | 18,334 | Rest of Qld | ||
| 4 | Westcourt - Bungalow | 6,452 | Rest of Qld | Y | |
| Least Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| Ashgrove | 14,402 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Bardon | 10,730 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Brookfield - Kenmore Hills | 6,971 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Chapel Hill | 10,860 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Eatons Hill | 8,235 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Fig Tree Pocket | 4,430 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Mackay Harbour | 565 | Rest of Qld | |||
| Pinjarra Hills - Pullenvale | 5,564 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| Samford Valley | 12,512 | Greater Brisbane | |||
| The Gap | 17,334 | Greater Brisbane |